"Uncle!"
"Father!"
Zhang Yuan and Xiao Yan greeted him at the same time.
Xiao Zhan looked at the two standing together, nodded in satisfaction, then took out a ring and handed it to Zhang Yuan. "These are the medicinal ingredients I first transferred from the clan treasury. They're enough to refine twenty portions of Foundation Elixir. After this, we'll continue to purchase more discreetly."
As he spoke, he took out two jade boxes from his storage ring and handed them over as well. "Inside are two portions each of Earth Demon Root and Soul-Thorn Leaf. We're still missing two 4th Tier wind-attributed monster cores. With those, we can refine the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill twice."
A 4th Tier magical beast was comparable to a human Dou Ling expert. A 4th Tier wind-attributed monster core naturally had to come from such a beast. With the Xiao Clan's wealth, they could afford to buy them, but they wouldn't normally keep such items in stock.
Zhang Yuan wasn't disappointed. He had only been trying his luck in the first place.
"Uncle, once the 4th Tier wind-attributed monster cores are found, just hand them directly to Yan'er. He'll pass them to that Alchemist senior, and once the pills are refined, he'll notify me by letter." Zhang Yuan passed the storage ring and jade boxes to Xiao Yan.
Once the cores were obtained, Yao Chen could first refine a one-line Green Spirit Pill. When Zhang Yuan returned later, they could refine the two-line Green Spirit Pill together.
Xiao Zhan frowned slightly. "Yuan'er, you just got back, and you're leaving again?"
Hearing this, Zhang Yuan carefully repeated what he had just told Xun'er earlier.
"Only five days at most…" Xiao Zhan pondered. "In that case, tonight's Miteer Auction House auction… We'll have to bleed a bit."
Miteer Auction House?
A vivid image surfaced in Zhang Yuan's mind, a woman clad in black silk stockings, possessing an extremely seductive temperament and a figure that could only be described as bewitching.
When he left Wu Tan two years ago, she had just arrived in this 'backwater town.' They had met a few times back then.
Two years had passed. That elder sister had surely become even more captivating through experience.
Keeping his expression unchanged, Zhang Yuan asked, "Uncle, does tonight's Miteer Auction House auction have 4th Tier wind-attributed monster cores?"
"Yes." Xiao Zhan nodded. "The invitation was sent long ago. The auction list included five 4th Tier monster cores, two of which are wind-attributed, and they'll be auctioned separately."
The Miteer Clan, the Nalan Clan, the Mu Clan, and the former Xiao Clan were once collectively known as the four great clans of the Jia Ma Empire. Each had multiple Dou Wang experts overseeing them, and occasionally even Dou Huang experts, rising and falling together with the empire.
With the Miteer Clan's foundation, it wasn't unusual for a Dou Wang to lead a Dou Ling squad into the Magic Beast Mountain Range to 'restock.' 4th Tier and even 5th Tier monster cores were almost guaranteed items at their auctions and often even went unsold.
Aside from the City Lord's Mansion representing the imperial authority, the strongest local forces in Wu Tan were the Xiao Clan, the Jia Lie Clan, and the Ao Ba Clan. The strongest external force was the Miteer Auction House, which maintained a neutral stance.
Among Wu Tan's three great clans, the Xiao Clan mostly cultivated fire-attributed Dou Qi, the Jia Lie Clan favored wind, and the Ao Ba Clan specialized in earth. In the past, both the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans were subordinate to the Xiao Clan, but now the three were in a relationship of both cooperation and competition.
For auction items like monster cores, it was tacitly understood that fire-attributed ones went to the Xiao Clan, wind to the Jia Lie Clan, and earth to the Ao Ba Clan, reducing bidding conflicts.
Xiao Zhan saying they'd have to 'bleed' clearly meant competing directly with the Jia Lie Clan.
"Uncle, there's actually no need to go through that much trouble." A glint flashed in Zhang Yuan's eyes as he smiled. "We can secure those two 4th Tier wind-attributed monster cores before the auction even begins."
Auction items didn't necessarily have to be auctioned. They could be sold in advance, provided the auction house or the seller agreed.
But to achieve that, either one had overwhelming connections, status, and strength, or the seller was desperate for resources or money, or one was willing to pay a higher price simply to avoid public bidding.
With the auction happening tonight and the wind-attributed monster cores being items of the Miteer Auction House itself, the likelihood of success was extremely low.
"This will be very difficult." Xiao Zhan shook his head. "If it were two years ago, I might have been able to swallow my pride and ask. But now the person in charge of the Miteer Auction House is Ya Fei. She's young, but shrewd and capable. She won't be easy to persuade."
"And if we reveal our intentions too early, she may target us, forcing us to pay an even higher price."
The future Golden Empress, a woman whose cultivation talent was inversely proportional to her business acumen, truly lived up to her reputation.
Zhang Yuan smiled confidently. "Precisely because the person in charge is Ya Fei, this matter is easier to discuss."
Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Yao Chen: "?"
An hour later, after finishing dinner, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, Zhang Yuan, and Xun'er arrived together at the Miteer Auction House.
Zhang Yuan had bathed, removed his heavy armor, and changed into a black robe edged with gold, woven from special magical beast silk. He looked like flawless jade brought to life, his aura transforming from that of a young general into one of noble elegance, refined and dignified.
Along the way, countless women cast admiring glances and sent him subtle flirtatious looks.
Zhang Yuan, however, didn't spare them a glance, speaking only with Xun'er.
He had no desire to hear Xun'er ask, "How do these women compare to Xiao Yixian?"
If she did, he would truly feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
"Please inform Miss Ya Fei that I have important matters to discuss with her."
As soon as they entered the auction house, they were received by dedicated staff. Xiao Zhan directly requested to see Ya Fei.
With his status as Xiao Clan Leader and a 'Da Dou Shi', he was certainly qualified.
They were led to a private room and served pastries and tea.
Zhang Yuan picked out some pastries for Xun'er. The desserts here were indeed quite distinctive.
Before long, the door opened. A woman in a black cheongsam, black silk stockings, and high heels walked in with swaying hips. Her features were exquisite, her gaze alluring.
Xun'er instinctively frowned, but upon noticing Zhang Yuan's clear and unwavering gaze, she relaxed and smiled in satisfaction.
"Gulp!"
An abrupt sound of swallowing echoed in the room.
It was Xiao Yan. As a hot-blooded youth, seeing such a peerless beauty up close had caught him off guard.
He quickly straightened his posture and averted his gaze.
It wasn't feigned propriety. He simply wasn't sure of Ya Fei's relationship with Zhang Yuan.
Based on his 'understanding' of his cousin, such a stunning woman could very well be a 'future sister-in-law.'
Xiao Yan's reaction caused Ya Fei a moment of surprise, but her gaze lingered longest on Zhang Yuan. She gracefully took the main seat and spoke softly, "There's still an hour before the auction begins. Clan Leader Xiao arrived quite early."
She didn't directly ask why Xiao Zhan wanted to see her early. In short, she was applying pressure.
Xiao Zhan said nothing and instead looked at Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan set down his teacup and smiled. "Miss Ya Fei, it's been two years. I trust you've been well."
Ya Fei's beautiful eyes flickered as she laughed lightly. "So that's who I thought it was. Such a handsome and distinguished young man. It turns out to be Little Brother Zhang Yuan. Counting it up, you haven't come to visit your elder sister in two years. Truly heartless."
Little Brother Zhang Yuan?
Xiao Yan turned his head away, barely suppressing his laughter.
That form of address was really something. He had once bathed in hot springs with his cousin, fully exposed. After that, his only thought was never to bathe together again.
Even though he was gifted himself, he still lost decisively in comparison.
If Ya Fei had seen that, she wouldn't dare speak like this.
What really amused him was that Zhang Yuan had brought Xun'er along. Wasn't he afraid of a disastrous backlash?
Xun'er set down her teacup, her lips curling into a faint smile as she looked at Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan met her gaze calmly and said apologetically, "I never expected that just a few meetings two years ago would make Sister Ya Fei fall for me and suffer from lovesickness. I apologize."
"Next time I visit, I'll be sure to wear a mask, so you won't suffer from unattainable longing."
Ya Fei's smile froze. "..."
Was that really what she meant?
She had intended to tease him and perhaps set a trap, but instead ended up burying herself.
Still, losing verbally like this meant little to her.
Her smile only grew brighter as she rested her chin on her hand. "There's no need for that. Seeing your face is like admiring a beautiful flower, soothing both body and mind. If you have time, you should come chat with your elder sister more often."
"Of course, of course." Zhang Yuan agreed without sincerity.
Whether he actually would was another matter entirely.
Ya Fei smiled and asked, "So, Little Brother, what brings you here? Surely you didn't come after all these years just to ask for something?"
If it were an ordinary, thin-skinned young man, he would already be cornered by that question.
Zhang Yuan didn't care and spoke plainly. "There is indeed something I'm asking for. I'd like to purchase the two 4th Tier wind-attributed monster cores held by your auction house."
Ya Fei's smile faltered again. She then said, "Little Brother, this is an auction house, not a shop. Those two 4th Tier wind-attributed monster cores are the highlights of tonight's auction. They can't be sold in advance."
As expected of a merchant. The price hike had begun.
But Zhang Yuan was prepared. He said calmly, "Sister Ya Fei, do you know where I've been these past two years?"
Ya Fei gazed at him, smiling. "Are you planning to have a heart-to-heart chat with your elder sister?"
Zhang Yuan's expression didn't change. "Sister Ya Fei, you wouldn't want Mu Zhan to know you're here, would you?"
Ya Fei's smile instantly froze.
Xiao Yan blinked.
For some reason, that line felt strangely familiar to him.
A bit… theatrical?
(End of Chapter)
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